Name: Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 shallot (finely chopped); 4 cloves garlic (minced (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)); 1 pound large raw shrimp (peeled and deveined with tails on (fresh or frozen and thawed)); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth ( or white wine); Zest of 1/2 lemon; 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 1/2 pounds zucchini noodles (from about 4 medium zucchini); 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves; 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Every night, Ben and I try to spend few minutes reading for leisure. Most of the time, he reaches for the latest prize-winning nonfiction, and I opt for (surprise!) a cooking magazine. It suits us. He can count on me for an unending supply of fresh dinners like today’s Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles, and I can rest assured that he’ll always have an intelligent topic for us to discuss while we eat them.

Skinny Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles. Easy, low carb version of the classic pasta dish that can be made without wine. Recipe at wellplated.com | @wellplated

Well, except for that one time he was reading about a shipwreck in the Arctic Ocean, and I kept changing the subject. As someone who is freezing when the temperature dips below 68 degrees, I can only handle so much information about surviving amongst ice caps.

Meanwhile, on my side of the bed, the reading material is much warmer. The most recent magazines to land on our doorstep have been filled with gorgeous, glossy photos of a food group that is hitting its peak: VEGETABLES.

Summer is produce primetime. If you’ve been looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet, there could not be a better time of year (or a better recipe!) to begin.

Light Shrimp Scampi recipe without wine. Recipe at wellplated.com | @wellplated

The Making of Healthy Shrimp Scampi

Although I’m conscious of making sure we have vegetables at every meal, with the exception of hearty, main dish salads, I typically serve them on the side versus as the true base of the dish.

After a solid hour of ogling magazine spreads depicting epic, veggie-centric, farm-to-table feasts (including one prepared by the author of my latest cookbook impulse buy), however, I decided that it was time to take my vegetable game one step farther: zucchini noodles.

{Side note: have you ever noticed how many different shapes of glassware and dishware are used in those farm table photo shoots? Does every barn have a bottomless supply of custom pottery and mason jars just waiting to be placed at the table on a casual Tuesday night? If so, I’m a little jealous…of the supply, not the clean up.}

Back to Healthy Shrimp Scampi!

This healthy shrimp recipe a lightened-up, veggie-fied twist on classic shrimp scampi, a dish traditionally made with pasta, butter, lemon, more butter, garlic, and extra butter. I kept the essentials—the garlic, lemon, Parm, and, yes, the butter—but modified the amounts of each to make the recipe more balanced. (Sidenote: My Baked Shrimp Scampi and Garlic Shrimp with Quinoa are two other healthy shrimp recipes inspired by shrimp scampi!)

The biggest, most obvious healthy shrimp scampi swap is that I’ve replaced the traditional pasta noodles with zucchini noodles (a.k.a. zoodles) I made using this spiralizer. I am a relative latecomer to the sprializer game, but I am oh so happy to be here at last.

Not only are the zoodles a healthy, low-calorie, and low-carb option to replace pasta, but their mild flavor can easily adapt to a wide range of flavors, including the heap of lemon and garlic you’ll find in this light shrimp scampi recipe. (Looking to use up more zucchini? Try this fast and easy Zucchini Stir Fry.) Looking to add another boost of veggies? Try serving Oven Roasted Asparagus alongside this recipe)

Recipe Adaptations

To Add Pasta. If you aren’t ready to go all veg, you can also do a 50-50 blend of zucchini noodles and whole wheat pasta noodles. (Looking for another veg-heavy noodle dish? Garlic Shrimp Pasta or Healthy Shrimp Pad Thai might fit the bill!)
Shrimp Scampi with Wine. To make the recipe as accessible as possible, I made this healthy shrimp scampi without wine, opting for chicken stock instead. Most shrimp scampi recipes do call for wine, so if you’d like to stick with tradition (or need another good reason to open a bottle), you can certainly add any dry white wine you’d also enjoy sipping alongside your serving.

More Healthy Shrimp Recipes To Enjoy

Tools Used to Make This Recipe

Spiralizer
This enamel/cast iron braiser (this is another good, more affordable option)

Skinny Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles. Easy, low carb version of the classic pasta dish that can be made without wine. Recipe at wellplated.com | @wellplated

Review Save Print

Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

4.90 from 88 votes

Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles. Easy, low-carb version of the classic shrimp pasta dish that's flavorful, quick to make, and so delicious!

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 25 mins

Servings: servings

Review Save Print

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot finely chopped
4 cloves garlic minced (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
1 pound large raw shrimp peeled and deveined with tails on (fresh or frozen and thawed)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth or white wine
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 pounds zucchini noodles from about 4 medium zucchini
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Instructions

Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallot and cook until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the shrimp, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Sauté for 3 minutes, until the shrimp are beginning to cook but are still somewhat translucent.
Add the chicken broth, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute, just until the shrimp are completely opaque and cooked through. Stir in the zucchini noodles and parsley. Toss the noodles with the shrimp so that they are coated with the garlic-lemon sauce and heat just until warmed through. (Do not overcook or the zucchini noodles will become mushy.) Sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 27gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 295mgPotassium: 596mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 520IUVitamin C: 42.4mgCalcium: 227mgIron: 3.2mg

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Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

Learn more about Erin

Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

The Making of Healthy Shrimp Scampi

Recipe Adaptations

More Healthy Shrimp Recipes To Enjoy

Tools Used to Make This Recipe